Donelli:
If the secession clause had been included in the constitution at that time, the union would have broken up within two years because there were several post-independence crises. However, I strongly believe that the clause should have been included but made terminal.

It should have been written as option of a referendum after a cyclic period not less than 30 years (for instance) for the people to continually decide if or not the union will continue.

Nnamdi Azikiwe had a vision of cohesion in Nigeria and Africa in general but he probably overefeed off your stimated the situation.

Donelli:
If the secession clause had been included in the constitution at that time, the union would have broken up within two years because there were several post-independence crises. However, I strongly believe that the clause should have been included but made terminal.

It should have been written as option of a referendum after a cyclic period not less than 30 years (for instance) for the people to continually decide if or not the union will continue.

Donelli:
Nnamdi Azikiwe had a vision of cohesion in Nigeria and Africa in general but he probably overestimated the situation.

Volksfuhrer:

The secession clause should have been inserted unconditionally, without time limit!

Let's keep it simple, Zik never had that vision; he only had selfish reasons to rule the whole country!

A Pan-Africanist would never support Biafra nor write Biafra's Anthem. And please don't bring the "survival of his people" argument; it won' cut it, because pogroms against igbos in 1945 and 1953 never dissuaded Zik from gleeful arguments of "indivisibility" and."perpetuity!"

teboi:
How? I am sure the country would have been better off if we had broken up long ago instead of this useless contraption where others hold you back and feed off your resources and infrastructures under the name of one Nigeria

Donelli:

...
Is this not a contradiction

Donelli:
... Nnamdi Azikiwe never supported secession; if you have a link to prove that by all means
please share with me...

Volksfuhrer:

No, It wasn't a contradiction. Remember, I brought up this statement, '...pogroms against igbos in 1945 and 1953 never dissuaded Zik from gleeful arguments of "indivisibility" and."perpetuity!"', only as an objection to arguments justifying Zik's support for secession during Biafra.

Did you say, "Nnamdi Azikiwe never supported secession"? Well, he evidently supported secession during Biafra! If he wrote Biafra's anthem and canvassed for Biafra to join the OAU as independent country, then he supported secession.

Donelli:

Pardon me, but I'm not sure I understand what you mean here. Please explain further.

Donelli:
I'm aware of the anthem part but which Biafra did he canvass to join OAU when the Nigerian government tried to ensure Biafra did not see the light of day?

Donelli:
If the secession clause had been included in the constitution at that time, the union would have broken up within two years because there were several post-independence crises. However, I strongly believe that the clause should have been included but made terminal.

It should have been written as option of a referendum after a cyclic period not less than 30 years (for instance) for the people to continually decide if or not the union will continue.

Nnamdi Azikiwe had a vision of cohesion in Nigeria and Africa in general but he probably overestimated the situation.

Volksfuhrer:
Okay. The thrust of my argument was that: Zik was no true nationalist because he later supported Biafra's secession project. He argued with energy for One Nigeria, despite the fact that pogroms were commited against . Igbos in 1945 and 1953. He later supported secession in Biafra using the pogroms against his people in 1966 as a reason.

I never said he succeeded, but he tried. In any case, he sought out some African Heads of States for Biafra's recognition. Didn't he?

SpecialAdviser:


Looking at the mentality and dispositions of the Nigerian leaders then, one would easily understand why Zik was of the opinion. They saw themselves as one but was short sighted to understand that a time will come in life when new generation of Nigerians would jettison oneness and become selfish and nepotistic.
Any which way, it was wrong not to have included power to secede in the constitution.

In addition, I wish Awolowo who had a clearer vision of a non working united Nigeria exploited Ojukwu declaration. He had argued vigorusly in that regard previously. I bet that would have saved all the mess we found ourselves in a pseudo united Nigeria.

nisai:
"Again, however, when the 1954 constitution conference started, my good friend, Chief Obafemi Awolowo tabled a motion to the effect that in the new constitution, provision should be made that any state which feels like seceding should do so. I was opposed to it and said ‘no’ and said that once we have a federation, we are indivisible and perpetual. That was when we began to use that expression - ‘The Indivisibility and perpetuity of the federation’ - and that to secede would amount to treason. And so, a debate ensued.
The Secretary of State then was Oliver Littleton, later Lord Chandos and he was very much interested and that was his first time in saying that the people of African descent were people actually debating at a high level. So a full day was given to Chief Awolowo to make his points. He spoke brilliantly as a lawyer. He made his points why secession should be incorporated in the constitution. He cited the case of the Soviet Union which is a federation, and that secession is written there so that any state in the Soviet Union can secede at will.
He also cited the case of Western Australia and eventually he finished his case and was applauded. We adjourned. The next day, I had to reply. I availed myself of the opportunity to, well, demolish the arguments of my friend and I cited the case of United States which based its constitution on that of the Swiss Confederation. That is Switzerland. I pointed out a case, I think, that of Texas versus White, where Mr. Salmon Chase, the Chief Justice laid down the principle - he was really an arbiter - that the union was intended to be perpetual and indivisible and that any attempt to divide the union by secession was treasonable.
The North (NPC) supported Action Group. The question was then: Should we have secession? The Colonial Office came to our rescue. You know, the usual principle of Britain - ‘divide and rule’ (laughs) but this time, it was in our favour. So, the colonial office backed us. Lord Chandos said that on the face of the arguments before him it would be suicidal to incorporate secession in our constitution and that is why we have section 86 in our constitution that if any region or state should secede, then it will be an act of treason and that was what led to this war, because Col. Ojukwu seceded and so violated the constitution."

Donelli:
If the secession clause had been included in the constitution at that time, the union would have broken up within two years because there were several post-independence crises. However, I strongly believe that the clause should have been included but made terminal.

It should have been written as option of a referendum after a cyclic period not less than 30 years (for instance) for the people to continually decide if or not the union will continue.

Nnamdi Azikiwe had a vision of cohesion in Nigeria and Africa in general but he probably overestimated the situation.

Xander85:


The man was just too much of an idealist, and of all the three main ethnic groups it's his own people that are being cheated the most in this cursed 'one Nigeria' experiment!

Xander85:


Quit sounding daft!

You don't seem to have a problem with Fulani domination! Care to tell me if your shithole of a country is better off for it?

When the people you so despise now ask for a referendum to decide if they wanna leave the El-Dorado the Fulani created for you lot to enjoy by yourselves, you go ape....threatening fire and brimstone!

T9ksy:



But your sli.my Zik a.k.a fake nationalist wasn't daft when he insisted on forming a nation with those who despise him and his people and are not shy in expressing their feelings, physically.

Xander85:


Well i don't know about 'slimy', but i'm with you on his naivety in feeling it's ok to form a country with bigots and primitive-minded savages! I'm cutting him some slack though, given the pan-Nigerian nature of his early years!

You know Zik was fluent in speaking the three main Nigerian languages?